Chapter 73：One Sweet Problem

***

Writer's POV:

After that, there was a huge party organized. There was enough food, music and dancing. The partying would last till evening in honor of the Prince.

When he came down from the throne, his parents immediately hugged him happily. They were so proud of him! Asahd was just as happy.

After his parents, Djafar hugged him, very proud of his performance.

"You did great, son. I'm so happy for you." Djafar laughed happily and Asahd bent over to touch Djafar's feet, the way he did with his parents, as sign of great respect.

This surprised Djafar who made him stand immediately.

"I'm supposed to get your blessings as Prince, not the other way round." Djafar mused.

"I don't think so. You're a second father to me, Djafar. You deserve all my respect." Asahd chuckled and hugged the man again.

-

The celebration went on and on. Asahd was continuously stopped by nobles and other guests who wanted to congratulate him. He gave each of them, some of his time and thanked them.

Once he was a little free, he immediately searched the crowd for Saïda. He found her in a corner chatting with Noure. He wasn't going to let that ruin his mood. He was too happy for that. He approached them.

"My Prince." Noure immediately bowed, "Congratulations."

"Yeah, thanks." he hardly checked Noure but gave all his attention to Saïda who smiled a little at him, her cheeks pink. His breath hitched a little. She was so beautiful and he was so in love.

"Can we talk?" he asked her.

"Yeah..." she excused herself from Noure's presence and followed the Prince to a more quiet place.

They were standing alone in a corridor to talk. They looked at each other and then he smiled warmly at her, his heart threatening to burst out of his chest. She smiled back shyly, rubbing her arms a little.

"I'm so happy for you." she started, "I knew you could ace it. And you did."

"Thanks to you. You know you saved me right?" he mused and she giggled.

"Yeah?"

"I was probably gonna pass out or something. Until my eyes fell on yours and your beautiful smile." he muttered, very tempted to kiss her right there. "You know I need you by my side always, Saïda. What happened in there is proof."

She shyly tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Just doing my job, my Prince."

"You still care very much about me, don't you?" he asked and she reddened. "I really don't like us being mad at each other. Well, you being mad at me."

"Yeah..." she scratched her head nervously, "I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you a few days ago. I– I don't want us to keep being cold with each other too. We can still be friends. Right?"

The Prince smiled a little. He wasn't hurt. What she'd just said only gave him more hopes. It was more proof that she couldn't stay away from him and would probably never hate him. More than ever, he believed that Saïda would be his soon enough. He needed her and he knew she cherished him more than a friend would. He'd noticed how panicked she was for him back when he'd been answering questions. He'd noticed how relieved and happy she was when he'd started answering them again. And most importantly, he'd seen her little jump and scream of joy after the noble had announced that he'd completed the test, successfully. When he'd stopped to smile at her, she'd smiled back and the look she'd given him wasn't one of a 'simply', happy friend. He'd seen more in her eyes.

"Right?" she repeated and he snapped out. She giggled at how lost he'd seemed.

He chuckled and was about to reply when a servant appeared and approached him.

"My Prince?" he bowed.

"Yes?" Asahd replied, his eyes focusing on Saïda's. He didn't look away one bit and it amused Saïda a little who reddened and her lips twitched in amusement.

"Miss Hammar Kadir is looking for you."

Saïda's smile faded a little, yet she and Asahd didn't take their eyes off each other. To her sweet surprise, he smirked at her and his gaze dropped to her lips, making her a little breathless.

"You didn't see me..." was his simple reply to the servant.

"Alright, your Majesty." he bowed again and immediately left.

Saïda smiled and bit her lip in amusement, her cheeks reddening.

"Who?" he asked with a playful frown and she laughed a little, her heartbeat racy.

They were silent for a short while and Saïda's eyes dropped to his lips.

'Gosh. I shouldn't be alone with him. I want to kiss him, especially after all these days of not talking to or touching him.'

She swallowed a little and her breath hitched. The few days that she'd been away from him had been the worsts. Torture. She'd cried every single night, hurting her own self.

She took a step closer to him and was going to say something when a noble appeared at the door and they turned to him.

"Prince Asahd? You are demanded by your father." the noble said.

Asahd looked at Saïda one last time.

"Excuse me."

"Yes, my Prince." she curtsied and watched him follow the noble and away.

She took a deep breath and bit her bottom lip, smiling a little to herself as she remembered how he'd refused to go meet Hammar. He'd been doing that for the past days, avoiding the girl unless his parents were around. Of course Saïda knew it was because of her.

Just then, the girl appeared with a frown at the door.

"Hey, you!" she called rudely and marched up to Saïda who raised a sarcastic brow.

"Talking to me?" she asked with a little frown.

"Yes, I'm talking to you. You deaf? Where's Asahd??" Hammar asked rudely.

To her surprise, Saïda let out a sarcastic little laugh and clapped her hands once. Then she scoffed, flipped her beautiful long hair and turned on her heel, backing Hammar, before saying:

"Definitely not where you are."

And with that, she sashayed her hips and her way out.

Hammar stood there staring in confusion and very annoyed.

"What the hell?? Did Saïda just speak that way to me?" Hammar stated, very irritated.

"These maid bitches are beginning to grow wings a little too much."

Hammar angrily made her way back to the ballroom too.

'I must report to Asahd.'

--

Hammar did find Asahd and reported the incident to him. He found it rather amusing, though he didn't show it. Luckily, he was saved by some nobles and so he immediately left Hammar's presence, promising to get back to her and do something about Saïda's case. Lies.

**

Saïda's POV:

At seven that night, the guests were already leaving and I was very exhausted and so I started heading for my room. As usual, I had Asahd in my mind. I remembered how happy he seemed and it made me smile, my cheeks burning.

I was lost in my thoughts about him when I met with Aisha on my way.

"I was looking for you." she said, approaching me. "Noure's already leaving with his family. He's looking for you."

"You didn't see me. I'm exhausted." the words left my mouth without me thinking as I walked past Aisha.

"What??" Aisha asked surprised and I halted and turned to her. Her expression amused me and I laughed a little.

"Since when are you too exhausted for Noure?"

'Maybe since Asahd.

-Snap out, Saïda.'

"Chill Aisha. I'm kidding. I'll take the other corridor and meet with them in the ballroom." I said.

"Okay." she mused and went away.

"Nope. I'm going to my room." I muttered and laughed to myself.

I got to the corridor that led to my room when all of a sudden, Noure appeared and I shook a little.

"I scared you?" he chuckled, "Sorry my love. I've been looking for you."

"Oh, you're leaving?" I asked, pretending to be surprised.

"Yes dear." he approached and hugged me, "And to tell you that our parents have chosen our engagement date. Your father will tell you more. It's next week however." he said happily

I raised a brow at him.

"You okay?" he asked and I snapped out.

"Yes. Oh my. Next week? Wow."

"I know right! I'm happy."

"Me too." I replied and he pulled me in for a kiss. I kissed him back.

"Goodnight, darling."

"Goodnight, my love."

"I love you." he kissed my head.

"I love you too. Bye."

He smiled at me one last time before leaving. I frowned and my head started to hurt a little.

'I am happy, but there's one major problem.'

I turned on my heel as if controlled by someone, and started going the opposite way. I walked straight without looking left or right like a robot would.

I walked my way into the huge living room, through it till I got to the huge stairway that led upstairs. Some guests were still around. I ignored them and got to the top. My heart was racy and threatening to burst out of my chest. There was only one thing ringing continuously in my mind. One name.

'Asahd, Asahd, Asahd.'

I marched my way towards his door, guarded by the two men. My throat was dry, goosebumps had covered my skin, my breathing was changing as I got closer and I was getting nervous but not discouraged.

'I've been playing myself for way too long. I didn't think it was possible but it is. Now I believe it is.'

I made my way past and in between both guards, and down the mini corridor that led to the two huge doors that kept his room locked.

I knocked twice.

"Who is it?" I heard him ask.

"Saïda."

"Come in."

I opened the huge doors and stepped in, closing them behind me immediately after.

Asahd stood there in his bathing robe. He was about to go shower. He stared silently at me until I spoke.

"Good evening, my Prince." I tried to breathe straight but it was so hard.

"Good evening, Saïda." he replied, looking unsure.  It'd been days since I'd come to his room and he was clearly surprised.

"Do you need anything, my Prince?" I muttered, but to his hearing. I saw him swallow a little and when he gave me that sexy look from head to toe, my chest started to heave slowly while I took long deep breaths very tempted to pounce on him. I didn't even know what was happening to me at the moment. I couldn't describe it. But I knew one thing, and it was that I wasn't going to fight whatever was taking over me.

"Yes..." he said, looking me in the eyes. "I need you."

My breath hitched.

'I'm so done with right now.'

Without further thinking and my heartbeat real crazy, I went to him till we were standing real close to each other.

I looked up at him, feeling like I would faint at his feet. I couldn't resist him...I just couldn't. I could not!

"Forget my threat." I started, swallowing hard. He was silent.

"I need you to kiss me, Asahd."

'I need him to.'

His eyes dropped to my lips and he swallowed a little. My legs became weak.

"Now?" he whispered, raising his hand to gently caress my cheek. I leaned into his touch, my eyes automatically closing.

'Call me crazy. But I want him. I'm divided...'

Asahd's POV:

My heart was palpitating and my throat was dry. I was awaiting her confirmation. I needed it, to kiss her till she ran out of air. To feed all the frustration and desire I'd felt for the past days.

"Yes, please. Kiss me. I need you to. I've been craving your touch." she whispered and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me in for a kiss. It seemed like some sweet dream that I would awaken from. Her words had sent a sweet feeling down my spine and I was very tempted to pinch myself and see if it was a dream. But it definitely wasn't.

I immediately wrapped her and carried her, making her wrap her smooth legs around me. She immediately lowered her head and the next thing I felt was her warm tongue in my mouth. I immediately kissed her deep, making her moan and run her fingers through my hair. She kissed me like we'd been away from each other for a year. I kissed her back with the same passion. I'd missed her so much.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, she slowly broke the kiss and looked me in the eyes. She bit her lip and ran her soft thumb over my lips. I slowly parted them and took her thumb in. Her cheeks reddened and her breath hitched. Slowly, she withdrew her thumb and lowered her head. Goosebumps covered my skin when tempted, she ran the tip of her tongue over my bottom lip. She then pecked it softly and looked me in the eyes.

"I can't deny it any longer." she murmured.

"What?"

"You..." she was red and I could feel her racy heartbeat. She closed her eyes and brought her head down till her forehead touched mine. "Asahd..."

"Yes, sweetheart."

She gulped and then said the words.

"I love you." she opened her eyes, "I'm in love with you too."

My heart skipped several beats and I froze.

"Say that again, Saïda..." my whisper was husky. She blushed and bit her lip. I needed to hear it again. I needed to confirm that I wasn't imagining things.

"I love you, Asahd." she muttered, "But I'm divided. I also–"

"Shh." I hushed her, a smile on my lips. "As long as you love me."

I brought her beautiful lips down on mine for another kiss. The joy and relief that washed over me were undescribable.

'You won't be divided for long. I promise you that.'

As we kissed, I slowly carried her to my bathroom, closing the door behind us.